Trump Posts Map Renaming New Mexico to ‘New America’ on September 7

President Donald Trump posted an image on Truth Social on Sunday proposing to rename New Mexico as ‘New America,’ drawing sharp criticism from state officials and Democratic leaders. Trump lacks constitutional power to rename states, though he has successfully used executive orders to rename federal geographic landmarks including the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario.

What Trump posted and when

Trump posted an AI-generated image on Sunday showing New Mexico’s name with ‘Mexico’ crossed out in red and replaced with ‘America.’ The White House reshared the image on X. Trump later wrote on Truth Social: ‘Many people suggested changing the name of New Mexico, one of the great vote cheating states of all time, to NEW AMERICA. So much more prestigious and beautiful for the people of that potentially incredible State. Wow, I Love It!!!’ The White House has not announced an official effort to rename the state.

Trump’s track record renaming landmarks

Trump signed an executive order in January 2025 renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the ‘Gulf of America,’ a change now used by federal agencies. He also renamed Lake Ontario to ‘Lake America’ last month. Additionally, Trump added his name to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., though the board voted in August to reinstate his name on the facade after legal complications. Trump has the constitutional power to rename geographic landmarks through the Geographic Names Information System but cannot rename states.

Why states cannot be renamed by the president

The president lacks constitutional authority to rename states. Any such change must occur within the state itself through its own process. New Mexico’s name dates back to the 16th century, predating the founding of the United States. The state carries history tied to Native nations and Spanish explorers who named the land nearly five hundred years ago.

Democratic pushback from New Mexico leaders

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said on X: ‘New Mexico’s name isn’t up for debate, it’s been ours since before the United States existed.’ She accused Trump of trying to distract Americans from his ‘disastrous war in Iran’ and rising gas prices. Sen. Martin Heinrich posted: ‘Three things I will always call by their actual names: The Gulf of Mexico. Lake Ontario. New Mexico.’ Sen. Ben Ray Luján wrote: ‘It’s New Mexico, always has been and always will be.’ Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the Democratic nominee for governor, said she would ‘always stand up for what makes New Mexico, New Mexico.’ Even Republican gubernatorial candidate Gregg Hull rejected Trump’s suggestion, stating: ‘New Mexico does not need a new name.’

Timing amid broader renaming efforts

Trump’s post comes days after he signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to ‘Lake America’ late last month. The renaming push coincides with tense trade negotiations with Canada. A satirical post falsely claiming Trump had signed an executive order to rename New Mexico was quickly debunked by fact-checking site Snopes. Trump has frequently used landmark renaming as a show of presidential power and authority.

Final Thoughts

Trump cannot legally rename New Mexico without state approval, but his post signals his continued appetite for rebranding federal landmarks. New Mexico’s Democratic leadership and even some Republicans have firmly rejected the proposal, emphasizing the state’s centuries-old identity.

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